Mt. Pleasant's Kyle Shomin muscles up, earns Player of the Year honors

You can’t come weak with your game in the Saginaw Valley League or else you will get eaten up.

Kyle Shomin saw that firsthand during his 2011-12 junior season at Mt. Pleasant High School when he averaged a shade over 10 points per game and garnered honorable mention honors in the Saginaw Valley League.

For it being his first full season in the rough and tumble SVL, that was nothing for Shomin to shake his head at.

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But it wasn’t good enough for his own personal standards.

So he did the only thing he could do to get stronger and hit the weight room.

“My game developed mainly in the weight room,” said Shomin, a 6-foot-3 forward. “That’s where everything came from in the improvements with my game. I added 20 pounds over the summer and basically that helped everything.”

No longer could the Saginaw, Saginaw Arthur Hill, and Midland post players intimidate him with their size and strength.

Nor could any of the top post players from a league that is unquestionably one of the most competitive in the state.

Shomin had a dynamic senior season with the added strength and confidence to his game as he completed the year compiling a stat line of 15.5 points per game, 10 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and two steals. He was Class A honorable mention All-State along with first-team All-Saginaw Valley League, while now he can add another honor to his resume as he is the Morning Sun ‘Boys Basketball Player of the Year.’

“When you go up against teams that are so athletic and faster and quicker, when you are stronger and can finish through the contact you can still make something happen,” Shomin said. “When there is a 50/50 ball on the ground and you and a kid from another team are wrestling for it and you come up with it, it makes you feel good about yourself. Same thing with battling for a rebound and then finishing with contact. It all goes to the work I put in building my strength.”

Mt. Pleasant coach Dan Schell saw plenty of improvements out of Shomin his senior season and it all boiled down to the work ethic that allowed for him to be a force in the SVL.

“A big part of it is the weight room because last year he’d get bumped and turn the ball over, while this year he’d get bumped and then he’d bump back and finish,” said Schell. “He’s a kid who does so much dribble-drive to the basket and his game is predicated on that ability. He’s a mismatch. Because he’s a big who can handle the ball and drive to the basket, but also shoot. His progressions have come a long way and he’ll probably tell you he started about three years too late. The reality is that he is just scratching the surface.”

A well-documented storyline during the Oilers’ season came in terms of the three tranfers from Saginaw Buena Vista, including 6-6 center Jaleel Hogan. But the three were not eligible until late January, so Shomin was left manning the middle for a good portion of the season.

When Hogan was able to play and use his frame to distract defenders, it allowed Shomin a little more room to maneuver and it helped out his game in many ways.

“I was able to play more on the perimeter and drive to the hoop,” Shomin said. “Whoever was guarding Jaleel wasn’t always committed to sliding over and stopping me. They didn’t want to give up the lob to Jaleel, so it got me and the guards a lot more looks at the rim.”

Mt. Pleasant finished its campaign with a 12-9 record as a heartbreaking 47-44 loss to Midland ended things in the district opener. The loss was admittedly “devastating” for Shomin as Midland was the district favorite and a win in that contest would have made the Oilers the new favorite to win the crown.

Shomin, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe, is headed to Mid-Michigan Community College next year to continue his basketball career.

Schell says that Shomin’s qualities not just on the basketball court but off it make him a role model.

“I think one of the more important things to note is that this young man is not just a basketball player,” said Schell. “Academically, he has improved greatly since his first two years in school and role model-wise it is going to be something that will be greatly missed by me personally. We have some big shoes to fill.”

Joining Shomin on the 2012-13 Morning Sun Dream Team are:

Mitch Myler, Sacred Heart, 5-10, Sr., G

Myler was the catalyst for a Sacred Heart team that saw itself among the top-10 in the Class D rankings for the majority of the season. His stellar play from the point guard position helped lead the Irish to a 17-3 record. He completed his senior campaign averaging 17 points per game along with five rebounds and five assists as he had his hand in every part of the game. Myler earned Class D All-State first team recognition as well as first-team All-MSAC.

Kyle Slagell, Alma, 6-4, Sr., F

As a three-year varsity performer, Slagell improved during the entirety of his Panthers tenure and it all came to a head this season as he was a force around the paint. He finished the year averaged 16.2 points, nine rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game. He also showed good touch as he was an 82 percent free throw shooter. Slagell helped Alma to a 15-8 record and a district title. He was a first-team All-Tri-Valley Conference Central selection.

Sage DeMull, Ithaca, 6-2, Sr., G

The numbers DeMull put up as a senior speak to his all-around game as he put up averages of 15.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 steals, and 1.7 assists. He also canned 25 three-pointers. The Yellowjackets won the outright TVC West title and completed the year with an 18-4 record with DeMull playing a big part in it. For his efforts, he was named honorable mention Class C All-State and first-team TVC West.

Josh Ledbetter, Shepherd, 6-6 Sr. C

Ledbetter used his size and skill set to put up dominant numbers for the Bluejays in helping his squad to a 15-8 record and a share of the TVC Central crown. He finished his season putting in 14.8 points per game to go along with 8.8 rebounds and two blocks. He earned Class B honorable mention All-State recognition along with first team TVC Central honors.

Coach of the Year:

Cam Gatrell, Beal City

After departing from Montabella for Beal City this season, Gatrell took over a program that had not won a district title since 1991. Not only did Gatrell lead the Aggies to their first district crown in 22 years, but he added a regional title as well as Beal City was not knocked off until the quarterfinal round. The Aggies completed the season with a 17-8 record.